As this very cool Gamescom 2011 interview with the game's producers (decked out in their Army gear) shows, FromSoftware is on track to wow Kinect owners (and skeptics alike) with their upcoming game. Between the retro visual style and influences (the Omaha Beach sequence from Saving Private Ryan springs to mind) plus the fact that yes, you're controlling a huge walking mech in real time (and without that massive 40 button controller the original SB had back on the Xbox), this one looks like a keeper. It also looks like Kinect is getting a few games hardcore gamers will really want to get their hands on (provided they also manage to wrap their heads around the whole no controller aspect*).
*Well, the game actually DOES require a 360 controller, but you'll still do the majority of playing without it.
It's simply amazing that FromSoftware has kept this long-running mech combat franchise going for longer than some systems have been in existence. I can still remember playing the first game on the original PlayStation and being floored by the game (which was made using a modified King's Field engine from what I recall). ACV looks to be one of the best entries in the franchise with a much stronger focus on online play than in previous entries, improved visuals and as you can see, pretty fast action. I'm hoping there's a solid single player campaign somewhere in the mix that's better structured than in the last installment, but we'll see what happens as the game moves closer to completion.
I saw this particular boss battle played out live at the Namco Bandai event a few weeks back - the rep playing put up a stellar fight, but lost despite his valiant efforts. When the guy doing the awesome speed run through the demo (one of the best and funniest examples of "I've been playing this build for a few months, so I know what to do here" I've ever seen) gets his armored clock cleaned by a pair of gargoyles, you KNOW the final game will be a total nightmare. I can't wait...
FromSoftware's nightmarish, brutal (and beautiful) RPG gets better and better looking each time I see it. At the Namco Bandai event last week, I also got to see see a hilarious speed run through the demo that made a formerly torturous hour-long plus replay after replay session under normal hands get us to a pretty spectacular (and scary) boss battle in around two and a half minutes or so. The Namco Bandai rep doing the run had gotten so good at the demo that he decided to show off part of the build that few game journalists had actually made it to after multiple attempts.
While sitting there with our jaws on the floor or cracking up at the pack of death-dealing creatures running after the poor armored Templar type on screen, I had the immediate thought that Xbox 360 owners who didn't play Demon's Souls on the PS3 are in for a big, bad surprise. Dark Souls is looking to be beyond hard for newbies and trying to play it like any other game where you're guided through missions will probably lead to a few smashed controllers and complaints that the game isn't at all fair. Well... it's not supposed to be. When your official website is called PREPARE TO DIE, er... what sort of game were you expecting to play?
Dark Souls will be in stores in October for the PS3 and Xbox 360. It's going to get ugly online and off - but you'll love every minute of it.. unless you're not prepared to die (and a LOT at that).
OK, I lied (well, not really) - I'm actually waiting for a call before my travel plans, so I figured I'd post a few more things I liked. Here's a peek at Dark Souls, thanks to Namco Bandai's crack interview team. This one is going to be big, that's for sure and finally, Xbox 360 owners can see what PS3 users who snapped up Demon's Souls have been raving about.
Or: More stuff I like a LOT, Vol. Whatever (I've lost count thanks to too many games in previous volumes)- One of the best mech series on a console is back in action in this new CG trailer. FromSoftware is pretty much at the top of their game, I'd say... now where are the Wii U and PS Vita versions? Give it time, I say...
...along with a half-assed backflip (I'm SO out of shape). In case you didn't hear the news, both the standard and "limited" editions of the game are the SAME price. Interesting, considering the trend of charging MORE for that extra stuff by most other publishers. I hope this is the beginning of a new deal for gamers, particularly in an economy that's still quite lousy for many.
Here's a quick clip from the press release:The Dark Souls Collector’s Edition can be pre-ordered for $59.99, the same price as the standard edition while supplies last, and will include a limited edition art book containing premium illustrations of characters and environments from the game, a mini-strategy guidebook, behind-the-scenes videos from the development studio detailing various stages of game concept, design and building, and the game’s soundtrack for digital download. All of this will come packaged with the standard edition game in a custom-designed metal case.
In the words of the great philosophers: They got my money already. Of course, you might want to stock up on foam bricks to throw at the TV, a few boxes of Kleenex for those crying jags and a pillow to bite down on hard when the game kicks your butt all over the room, but that's all optional.
I absolutely LOVED Demon's Souls, as it was the culmination of what I feel FromSoftware wanted to do with its mighty King's Field and Shadow Tower games back on the original PlayStation and PS2. This not so-sequel is improved in every way, looks grim, terrifying and is pure hard-core, old-school eat your powdered bones with blood fantastic from what I'm hearing. I expect death to stalk my every step and I'll love every minute of it (when I'm not threatening my PS3... AND Xbox 360, as I fully intend to play this through on both consoles. The art direction here is phenomenal, that music is depressingly perfect and overall, i can see this as a Game of the Year contender in my book. Now, about that OTOGI reboot, From...
I'd have to say FromSoft's mechs and art direction in this franchise are some of the best I've seen in games and thanks to the endless customization options over the years in the AC series, everyone else who's tricked out a custom mech can probably agree. Anyway, screens are going up this weekend, as I'm poring over them the same way I did the Dark Souls shots. This one's going to be a killer of a game, that's for sure...
